Atoms Section 1

Section 1: The Development of Atomic Theory

Preview
• Key Ideas
• Bellringer
• The Beginnings of Atomic Theory
• Dalton’s Atomic Theory
• Thomson’s Model of the Atom
• Rutherford’s Model of the Atom
Atoms Section 1

Key Ideas
〉 Who came up with the first theory of atoms?

〉 What did Dalton add to the atomic theory?

〉 How did Thomson discover the electron?

〉 What is Rutherford’s atomic model?

Atoms Section 1

Bellringer
When scientists wanted to find out what an atom was, they
were not able to look directly at what the atom was made
of. They had to make inferences from the results of many
different experiments. It was like trying to describe a
picture, such as the one on the next slide, with only small
portions visible.
Atoms Section 1

Bellringer, continued

1. Write four sentences describing what you can see of

the above picture.
2. What information or parts of the picture would make
your descriptions more accurate without revealing
the entire picture?
Atoms Section 1

The Beginnings of Atomic Theory

〉 Who came up with the first theory of atoms?

〉 In the fourth century BCE, the Greek philosopher

Democritus suggested that the universe was
made of indivisible units called atoms.

• Democritus did not have evidence for his atomic theory.

Atoms Section 1

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

〉 What did Dalton add to the atomic theory?

〉 According to Dalton, all atoms of a given

element were exactly alike, and atoms of
different elements could join to form compounds.
Atoms Section 1

Dalton’s Atomic Theory, continued

• Dalton used experimental evidence.
– Law of definite proportions: A chemical compound always
contains the same elements in exactly the same proportions
by weight or mass.

• Dalton’s theory did not fit all observations.

Atoms Section 1

Thomson’s Model of the Atom

〉 How did Thomson discover the electron?

〉 Thomson’s cathode-ray tube experiment

suggested that cathode rays were made of
negatively charged particles that came from
inside atoms.
Atoms Section 1

Visual Concept: Thomson’s Cathode-Ray

Tube Experiment
Atoms Section 1

Thomson’s Model of the Atom, continued

• Thomson developed the plum-pudding model.

– In his cathode-ray tube experiment, Thomson had

discovered electrons.
• electron: a subatomic particle that has a negative
charge

– Thomson’s plum-pudding model: electrons are spread

throughout the atom, like blueberries in a muffin
Atoms Section 1

Rutherford’s Model of the Atom

〉 What is Rutherford’s atomic model?

〉 Rutherford proposed that most of the mass of

the atom was concentrated at the atom’s center.
Atoms Section 1

Rutherford’s Model of the Atom,

continued
• Rutherford conducted the gold-foil experiment.

• Rutherford discovered the

nucleus.

– nucleus: an atom’s central

region, which is made up of
protons and neutrons
Atoms Section 1

Visual Concept: Rutherford’s Gold Foil

Experiment